Two of the Biggest Mistakes Home Buyers Can Make

Two of the Biggest Mistakes Home Buyers Can Make

Two things are absolutely vital for home buyers to do before they attempt to finance a home: 1) know and understand your credit profile, and 2) think about how your income could change due to life events in the future. Miss these and they will become two of your biggest mistakes.

Credit reports

Knowing ahead of time what an underwriter will see on your credit report is extremely important both for you and your loan originator; in the event that information is incorrect and needs to be changed, you can do it prior to falling in love with a home and making an offer. If there are errors (and depending on their extent), the process can take up to 60 days, or even longer in some cases.

There many ways to get your credit report pulled. The two best options, however, are to have your mortgage professional do it – even if he or she charges you for the service – or you can approach the credit bureaus (TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax) yourself. There also are websites that promise to pull your report for free, but be cautious – there are scamsters out there.

Shortsightedness

Home buyers often don’t foresee changes in family size or employment status that could reduce your household income and the ability to pay your bills. Plan for a rainy day when you decide the amount you want to borrow; you never know when you might need an umbrella. Your mortgage professional can help you anticipate future changes and plan for them.

Content provided by MiLEND, Inc.